Is Compass Minerals International (CMP) Performing Better Than Other Basic Materials Stocks This Year?

Top Performers in the Basic Materials Sector

While the Basic Materials sector offers a variety of promising stocks, it's important for investors to focus on those companies that are excelling compared to their competitors. Compass Minerals (CMP) is one such stock that has attracted significant investor interest. But how does its recent performance stack up against the broader sector? Comparing its year-to-date results with the rest of the Basic Materials group provides valuable insight.

Compass Minerals’ Sector Standing

Compass Minerals is one of 254 stocks within the Basic Materials sector, which currently holds the #2 spot in the Zacks Sector Rank. This ranking system evaluates the strength of 16 different sectors by analyzing the average Zacks Rank of their constituent stocks.

Strong Earnings Outlook for CMP

The Zacks Rank system, which prioritizes changes in earnings estimates, is designed to identify stocks with improving profit prospects. Historically, stocks with high Zacks Ranks have outperformed the market over short-term periods. At present, Compass Minerals holds a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy).

Over the past quarter, the consensus earnings estimate for CMP has climbed by 28.9%, reflecting growing optimism among analysts and a more positive earnings outlook for the company.

Year-to-Date Performance Comparison

According to the latest data, CMP has advanced approximately 26.6% since the start of the year, matching the average gain for stocks in the Basic Materials sector.

Other Notable Gainers: Fresnillo PLC

Another standout in the sector is Fresnillo PLC (FNLPF), which has surged 29.6% year-to-date. Over the past three months, the consensus EPS estimate for Fresnillo has increased by 38.2%, and the stock also carries a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).

Industry Breakdown

• Compass Minerals is part of the Chemical - Diversified industry, which includes 29 companies and is currently ranked #189 in the Zacks Industry Rank. This group has gained about 22.8% so far this year, meaning CMP is outperforming its industry peers.
• Fresnillo PLC operates within the Mining - Silver industry, which consists of nine stocks and holds the #13 spot in the industry rankings. This industry has jumped 35.1% year-to-date.

Investors interested in the Basic Materials sector should keep a close watch on both Compass Minerals and Fresnillo PLC, as their strong momentum could continue in the months ahead.

New: Zacks Top 10 Stocks for 2026

There’s still time to get early access to Zacks’ 10 top stock picks for 2026. Selected by Zacks Director of Research Sheraz Mian, this portfolio has delivered impressive and consistent results.

Since its inception in 2012 through November 2025, the Zacks Top 10 Stocks have soared 2,530.8%, outpacing the S&P 500’s gain of 570.3% by more than four times.

Sheraz has reviewed 4,400 companies tracked by the Zacks Rank and chosen the ten best stocks to buy and hold for 2026. Be among the first to discover these newly released picks with significant growth potential.

Additional Resources

• Get the latest stock recommendations from Zacks Investment Research. Download the 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days.
• Compass Minerals International, Inc. (CMP): Free Stock Analysis Report
• Fresnillo PLC (FNLPF): Free Stock Analysis Report

This article was originally published by Zacks Investment Research.

Zacks Investment Research